Ask the Experts

Garden City Hospital is here to help. Now you can browse, search and view answers to frequently asked health questions. Have a personal health question you need answered? We can do that too! Simply submit your question and we will get it to the appropriate GCH health expert for an answer.

Ask the Experts is for general information purposes only. It should never be thought of as medical advice or treatment, nor should it be used in place of a thorough medical screening or an exam by a licensed medical professional. Medical advice should be sought from an emergency room, urgent care center, or licensed medical professional. If you need help finding a physician, use our online physician directory to locate a Garden City Hospital Health Expert that’s right for you.

Check the Sunday issue or your local O&E for more answers from the GCH Health Experts.

Note: Questions are selected both randomly and based on relevance or frequency. Not all submitted questions will be answered. Answers will be posted on GCH.org and not supplied directly to the submitter. To maintain personal privacy, we do not require any personal information be given to submit questions.

Q

Each year during the holidays, I feel more frazzled than I do festive. What are some things I can do to reduce and manage my stress and anxiety so I can enjoy the holiday season?

A

There are many people struggling with the added burden of holiday stress, and there is no shortage of advice on how to cope. One of the primary stressors for many is the feeling of isolation.... read more

There are many people struggling with the added burden of holiday stress, and there is no shortage of advice on how to cope. One of the primary stressors for many is the feeling of isolation. We are inundated with images and messages of family, joy and the holiday spirit, which often conflicts with the occurrences of everyday life. But, the truth is you’re not alone in feeling depressed, angry or stressed. And, because the embarrassment or shame attached to having these feelings is still so widespread, no one wants to admit to having these feelings. By not admitting our true feelings, it can isolate us even further.

This is not a list of “10 Tips for Managing Holiday Stress” (that can be found in the latest issue of our Healthy Generations Magazine), but rather a simple suggestion that will help keep you from becoming overwhelmed with negative emotions. Talking to someone helps. It just does. The “chemistry” of our emotions must finish itself once started, and somehow find release. We are literally “chemical” beings and there are specific chemical reactions which occur, causing our thoughts and emotions. Once we begin a chain of thoughts that lead to negative emotions, the chain reaction must run its course. How we cope along the way will determine the amount of pain we endure. If you find yourself with no one you feel comfortable confiding in, choose a professional, like a psychotherapist or counselor. Check if your health insurance plan offers assistance programs where some of your counseling sessions would be free-of-charge. If money is an issue in seeking professional support, perhaps you can find a church and talk to a clergyman. Pastors, rabbis, priests, chaplains, they’ll listen and many are quite gifted in caring for the human spirit.

Most importantly, if you are convinced you’re not worth the moments it might take someone to care for you, stop right now, and believe me – it’s just not true. Get up and interact with others, do something, I mean anything. I have discovered purpose can be found in doing even the smallest act. Volunteer at a soup kitchen for an hour, call to check on a friend…anything to lift you out of the moment. Interacting with others often leads to conversation and connecting with others …and feeling better.